Opener for liquid containers



Nov. 19, 1946. H, smGER 2,411,344

OPENER FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 14, 1944 Hang Sin er.

Patented Nov. 19, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OPENER FOR LIQUIDCONTAINERS Henry Singer, Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii ApplicationAugust 14, 1944, Serial No. 549,400

T Claims.

. 1 This invention relates to an opener for liquid containers, and it isprimarily an object of the invention to provide a device of this kindwhich can be employed with safety and with speed.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this kindwhich constitutes a single unit and wherein, in its use to aconsiderable extent, it is under control of the thumb grasping thecontainer With which the device is being used.

Furthermore, the invention has for an object to provide a device of thiskind which is entirely free of any projecting parts which, during theuse of the device, may inflict injury to the hands of the person andwherein the construction is such as to assure effective protectionagainst any pricks to the person by the penetrating members.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device of this kindincluding penetrating members of a character and in such relation onewith respect to the other as to permit effective escape of gas from thecontainer and increased inflow of air for greater outflow pressure andwhich is particularly advantageous for substantially eliminating theliquid within the container foaming over.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of thiskind which, when used, operates in a manner to substantially preventebullition and spilling of the liquid within the container.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a device of this kindwhich comprises a safety hand guard and which allows for the use ofinterchangeable puncturing members and wherein the device operates toprovide a container with an extremely speedy outlet, together with anair inlet.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved openerfor liquid containers whereby certain important advantages are attained,as Will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceedto describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing,

wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of an opener for a liquid containerconstructed in accordance with my invention and in initially appliedposition with respect to a can;

Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the puncturing member or elementwhich is secured to the plate of the device for use in the mannerillustrated in Figure 1, the plate being indicated by broken lines;

Figure 3 is a view in bottom plan of the punc turing member or elementas illustrated in Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a'view in top plan of a can showing This curved face a hasextending therefrom an elongated fiat guard plate G herein disclosed asof a width equal to the width of the plate P and which, in practice,overlies the side wall of the container or can C when the device is. in.applied position and to an extent to allow the thumb of the hand, asindicated by broken lines in Figure 1, grasping the container or can toexert requisite pressure on the plate G to effectively hold or clamp thedevice in working position. This plate G throughout its length istransversely curved to provide an inner substantially convex face incross section to allow for close contact of the plate G with the sidewall of the container or through which pass from above the headedmembers or bolts 3 which thread into the upper portion of the puncturingelement or member M. The member M has a top fiat face for close contactfrom below with the plate P and is provided with the properly positionedsockets in its top face into which the members 3 are adapted to thread.

' The element or member M comprises: a body plate i in which the sockets5, hereinbefore referred to, are produced, and depending from thesubstantially flat under surface of the body plate 1 and substantiallyat right angles thereto are the puncturing or penetrating members 8, 9,l0 and I I. These members 8, 9, l0 and H are arranged in groups andspaced apart in a. direction along the body plate 1 with the member 9positioned centrally of the members 8 and included in the same group.The groups of members successively decrease in practice with the membersof one group staggered with respect to the mem bers of each adjacentgroup and with the group ber 9 in the group with the members 8 of alength materially in excess of the length of the members 8.

This handle member I i By having the members 8, 9, l and I I of varyinglengths, a structure is provided wherein the members do not allsimultaneously penetrate or puncture and, therefore, require less downpressure at the same instant of operation, thus allowing the element ormember M to be employed with ease and facility. The member 9 is providedin order to permit the puncturing of a single hole when desired.

After the puncturing members carried by the plate 1, have penetrated thetop of the ,can to a predetermined extent to form the dischargeapertures 12, the top of the can will be punctured at the opposite sidefrom the apertures l2 by the pointed punch 6 which is struck from anddepends from the plate P, forming the air vent opening l3 as shown inFigure 4.

In the use of the device, there is very little chance of injury byslippage or sliding due to the firm grip that may be had by the pressureof the thumb on the guard plate .G and also on account of the protectionafforded by the top or surface plate P. It is to be emphasized that theentire action in the use of the device is accomplished yvithoutlessening the thumb pressure on the plate G or shifting around thehandle member -l as only direct downward pressure is required to efiectthe desired puncturing of the escape opening and the air vent.

In use, it may be advisable to so operate the device as to press theback end of the plate P or that portion carrying the element or member Mto first puncture the liquid outlet or escape opening and thenmanipulate the device to puncture the air vent. While this operation isnot essential, it has been found, in practice that by following thisprocedure, the gas in carbonated .containers readily escapes and therebyprevents foaming over.

It is believed to be clearly apparent from the foregoing that the deviceas herein embodied is one which does not require any projecting rim onthe container or can 0 in order to secure a proper hold as it is onlynecessary for the user to grasp the handle member I and exert therequisite downward pressure and at the same time maintain the deviceineffective position by pressure of the thumb upon the plate G of thehand of the user grasping the container or can C.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that anopener for liquid containers constructed in accordance with my inventionis particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience andfacility with which it :may be assembledand operated.

Iclaim:

1. A punching device of the class described, comprising a plate tooverlie an end of a con. tainer, a guard plate extending from the firstplate and of a length to overlie the side Wall of the container to whichthe device is to be applied, and puncturing -;mernbers of differentlengths depending from the first plate to punch the end of the containerwhen-the first plate is pressed toward the end of the container, saidpuncturing members being'ar-ranged in groups, the members of each groupbeing spaced apart in ,a direction lengthwise of the first plate and thegroups being spaced apart transversely of the first plate the members ofeach inner group being of a length less than the length of .the member.ofthe out.- ward adjacent group.

2. A punchin device of the class described, comprising a plate to.overlie'an end of a .container, a guard plate extending from the firstplate and of a length to overlie the side Wall 01 the container to whichthe device is to be applied, and puncturing members of difierent lengthsdepending from the first plate to punch the end of the container whenthe first plate is pressed toward the end of the container, saidpuncturing members being arranged in groups, the members of each groupbeing spaced apart in a direction lengthwise of the first plate and thegroups being spaced apart transversely of the first plate, the membersof each inner group being of a len th less than the length of themembers of the outward adjacent group, the outermost group including amember of a length materially greater than the length of the members ofall of the groups.

3. A punching device of the class described, comprising a plate tooverlie the end of a con.- tainer, a guard plate extending from thefirst plate and of a length to overlie the side wall of the container towhich the device is to be applied, and puncturing members of difierentlengths depending from the first plate to punch the end of the containerwhen the first plate is pressed toward the end of the container, saidpuncturing members bein arranged in groups, the members of each groupbeing spaced apart in a direction lengthwise of the first plate and thegroups being spaced apart transversely of the first plate, the membersof each inner group be-. ing of a length less than the length of themembers of the outward adjacent group, one of the groups including amember of a length greater than the lengths of the members of all of thegroups.

4. A punching device of the class described, comprising a plate tooverlie the end of a container, a guard plate extending from the firstplate and of a length to overliethe side wall oi the container to whichthe device is be 7.8.13, plied, and. puncturing members ,of differentlengths depending from the first plate to punch the end of the containerwhen the first plate is pressed toward the .end of the container, saidpuncturing members being arranged in groups, the members of each groupbeing spaced apart in a direction lengthwise of the first plate and thegroups being spaced apart transversely pf the first plate, the membersof each inner group "be: ing .of .a length less than the length of themen bers of the outward adjacent group, the members in the groupssuccessively decreasing in number with the group of the smallest numberbeing innermost. i

5. ,A punching device of the class described, comprising a plate tooverlie the end of a 001'}? tainer, a guard plate extending from thefirst plate and of a length to overlie the side of the container towhich the device is tobeapplied, and puncturing members ,of differentlengthsd epending fromthe first plate to punch the end of the containerWhen the first plate is pressed toward the end r the container,aidpurict m memb rs b n arrang d n ups them mb r of each group beingspaced apart a direction lengthwise of the first plate ,andthegroupsbeing spaced apart transversely of the first plate, the membersof each inner group being of a length less than th length of the membersofthe out.- ward adjacent group-the members in theroups successivelydecreasing in number with thegroup 0 t e m est u e si n pst the 'membersof the groups bein g in staggered relation.

